Clam-shell bucket.



C. BERGHOEFER.

GLAM SHELL BUCKET. APPLICATION FILED 15515.31, 1905.

PATENTBD NOV. 28, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

if if No. 805,521. PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905. G. BERGHOBPER. OLAM SHELL BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.81, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. H

a if 6 No. 805,521. PATENTBD NOV. 28, 1905. 0. BERGHOEFBR.

GLAM SHELL BUCKET.

APPLIGATION rmm 14113.31, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAM-SHELL BUCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1905.

Application filed March 81, 1905. Serial No. 253,103.

To (tZZ 10.71.0712, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES BERGHOEFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clam-Shell Buckets, of which the following is a specification. I

The object of this invention is the production of a bucketof the class mentioned embodying the improvements hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bucket embodying the features of this invention, the bucket being represented as closed. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through said .bucket on dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section through the bucket on dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. A is a sectional view taken on dotted line 4 at of Fig. 3, but showing the bucket in its open position. Fig. 5 is a fragmental view of the upper end of the bucket, illustrating an alternative construction of the operating mechanism. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on dotted line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of one of the parts employed in said alternative construction.

In Figs. 1 to A, which represent one embodiment of this invention, the numeral 1 refers to a framework to which the bucket-sections are pivoted and within which the mechanism for drawing said sections together is mounted. Said framework comprises two pairs of side bars 3 and 4, rigidly connected at their upper ends to a hoisting-head 5, the lower ends of the bars of each pair being united by a cross-bar 6. An upwardly-extending loop 7, fixed to the hoisting-head 5, is provided for attaching the bucket to a carriage. (Not shown.) At each side of the framework 1 is fixed a vertical pair of guide-bars 8 and 9, the upper ends of the bars of each pair being rigidly connected with a cross-bar 10, fixed to the adjacent side bars of the framework near the upper ends of said side bars. The lower ends of the guide-bars of each pair are rigidly united by means of a bar 11. The guide-bar 8 of each of said pairs is provided upon the side thereof facing the bar 9 with a series of teeth, forming a rack 12 of less width, however, than the bar, the portion of the bar at each side of said rack-teeth forming rails 13. Two bucket-sections 14 are pivotally connected to the lower corners of the framework 1 by means of bolts 15. Upon each of the inner side walls of each bucketsection is fixed an operating-arm 16, made up of two plates 16 and a filler16", lying between said plates 16, said plates and filler being riveted together. When the bucket-sections 14 are closed together, the free ends of the operating-arms 16 are inclined upwardly and inwardly from their respective sections, the two arms at each side of the bucket overlapping, one arm of each pair of overlapping arms being offset slightly from the' side of its bucketsection to permit of such overlapping. In the overlapping portions of the operatingarms are formed slots 17, extending longitudinally of said arms, and in the slots of each pair of arms are mounted the journals 18 of a disk 19, said disk keeping the arms 16 properly spacedapart to permit the links, hereinafter mentioned, to pass one another, and thejournals 18 in the slots 17 compelling the arms 16 to move together. A winding-shaft 20 carries near each of its ends a pinion 21, fast thereon, said pinions being adapted to mesh with the rack-teeth 12 upon the vertical guidebars 8. Each of said pinions has at its sides integral peripheral flanges 22. adapted to roll upon the rails 13 to keep the teeth of said pinions in proper relation with the rack-teeth'12. Links 23 pivotally connect the outer ends of the winding-shaft 20 with the free ends of the operating-arms 16, the ends of the plates 16 of said arms being perforated for the reception of the pivot-bolts 24 for said links. A winding-drum 25 is fixed upon the windingshaft 20 midway of the length of said shaft and has fixed upon its periphery one end of the operating-chain 26, the other end of said chain running to a suitable winding-d rum upon the hoisting-tower, barge, or other structure from which the bucket is operated. A shield-plate 27 is fixed in the framework 1 at i one side of the path of movement of the winding-drum 25 by means of brackets 28. Two guide-sheaves 29 are rotatably mounted in the hoisting-head 5 and receive the bight of the hoisting-chain 30, the ends of said chain extending to separate winding-drums (not shown) upon the structure from which the bucket is being operated. By supporting the bucketin this way it may be raised and lowered by operating either or bothof the winding-drums for the hoisting-chain 30 without disturbing the equilibrium of the bucket.

In operation the bucket is lowered in its open position, Fig. 4:, by paying out either or both ends of the hoisting-chain 30 and allowed to settle upon the material to be removed. The bucket-sections 14 are closed together into the position shown in Fig. 1 by rotating the winding-d rum (not shown) on the operating structure of the operating-chain 26, such winding up of said chain causing a rotation of the winding-drum 25 in the direction to raise the shaft 20 in the framework 1 by reason of its gear connection with said framework. The bucket-sections 14: being connected with said shaft 20 through theoperating-arms 16 and the links 23 are drawn together during such upward movement of the shaft. The wimling-drums (not shown) for the hoisting-chain 30 and the operating-chain 26 are now rotated, elevating the bucket. Said bucket is then moved to the point where its loadis to be discharged. Here the bucket is dumped by paying out the ormratingchain 26, when the bucket-sections 14 open by gravity, the winding-shaft 2O descending in the framework 1 and winding up the operating-chain 26 upon the winding-drum 25.

Instead of the gear connection hereinbefore described between the framework and the o1: erating-shaft 20 I may employ 'the chain connection shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In such alternative construction the ends of the shaft 20 are rotatably mounted in cross-heads 31, Fig. 7, vertically slidable between the guidebars 8 9. Chains 32 are connected at one end with the shaft 20 by means of perforated ears 2O on said shaft, and at their other ends with the opposite ends of a compression-swing 33. Between their ends said chains run over guide-sheaves 34E, rotatably mounted in the hoisting-head 5. The spring 33 is provided to take up slack or wear in said chains in order that the strain in lifting the shaft 20 may be borne equally by both chains. Paying out the operating-chain 26 permits the shaft 20 to descend and winds said chain upon the drum 25, as in the construction first described, and unwinding said chain from said drum winds up the chains 32 on said shaft 20 and raises the shaft, d rawing the bucket-sections together.

It is elea r that various changes may be made in the constructions hereinbefore described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I therefore desire to have it understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details set forth.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a bucket, in combination, a rigid supporting-frame; bucket-sections movably connected with said frame; a winding-shaft mounted to travel in said frame; connections between said bucket-sections and said shaft for causing them to move together; and means for traveling said shaft.

2. In a bucket, in combination, a rigid supporting-fran'ie; bucket-sections movably connected with said frame; a winding shaft mounted to travel in said frame; a connection between said winding-shaft and said frame for translating the rotation of said shaft into a traveling movement in said frame; means for rotating said shaft; and connections between saidbucket-sections and said shaft for causing them to move together.

In a bucket, in combination, a supporting-frame; bucket-sections movably eonnect ed with said frame; a winding-shaft mounted to travel in said frame; arms rigidly fixed to said bucket-sections; links pivotally connecting said arms with said shaft; and means for traveling said shaft.

a. In a bucket, in combination, a supporting-frame; two bucket-sections movablyconnected with said frame; an arm fixed with rela tion to each of said bucket-sections and overlapping the arm on the other section, the overlapping portions of said arms being slotted; a shaft rotatabl y mounted in the slots of said arms; and means for moving said arms.

5. In a bucket, in combination, a supporting-frame; bucketsections movably connected with said frame; a rack fixed in said. supporting-frame; a winding-shaft; a pinion on said shaft adapted to mesh with said rack; a winding-drum fixed on said shaft; an operating-chain for said winding-drum; and connections between said bucket-sections and said shaft for causing them to move together.

6. In a bucket, in combination, a supporting-frame; bucket-sections hinged to said frame; a rack fixed in said supporting-frame; a winding-shaft; a pinion on said shaft adapted to mesh with said rack; a winding-drum fixed on said shaft; an operating-chain for said winding-drum; arms fixed to said bucketsections; and links pivotally connecting said arms with said winding-shaft.

7. In a bucket, in combination, a supporting-frame; a rack-bar and a guide-bar at each side of said frame; a winding-shaft; pinions on said shaft adapted to mesh with said racks and be guided by said guide-bars; means for rotating said winding-shaft; bucket-sections movably connected with said frame; and connections between said bucket-sections and said shaft for causing them to move together.

8. In a bucket, in combination, a supporting-frame; a rack-bar and a guide-bar at each side of said frame; a winding-shaft; pinions on said shaft adapted to mesh with sa d racks and be guided by said guide-bars; means for rotating said winding-shaft; bucket-sections hinged to said frame; arms fixed to said bucket-sections; and links pivotally connecting said arms with said winding-shaft.

1H ARLES BERGHOEFER.

\Vitnesses:

S. JOHNSON, GEORGE L. CHINDAHL.

IIO 

